Water-seal vacuum return-pipe fitting.



W. E. TILLINGHAST.

I .WATBR SEAL VACUUM RETURN PIPE FITTING.

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U filivveivzvr; g; wail E' I] l PATENTED APR. 28, 1908.

WALLACE E. TILLINGHAST, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

WATER-SEAL VACUUM RETURN-PIPE FITTING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April as, 1908.

Application filed September 24, 1907. Serial No. 394,306.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it 'known that I, WALLACE E. TIL- LINGHAST, a citizen of the UnitedStates, re-

siding at Worcester, in the county of Worcester and State ofMassachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Water Seal VacuumReturn-Pipe Fittings, of which the following description, in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on thedrawings representing like parts.

My invention is a return pipe-fitting for use in steam heating systemsto connect the discharge or outlet passage of radiators, steam pipecoils, main riser drips, and the like, with the customary exhaust orvacuum pumps, and is intended to take the place of the usual vacuumvalves with their movable parts, pistons, diaphragms, or thermostaticplugs, which when moved by the collection of water of condensation openthe normally closed discharge opening of said valves to permit thedischarge of the water of condensation from the radiators, etc.

The objects of my invention are to provide a simple and inexpensivefitting which has no movable parts and therefore cannot get out oforder, does not re uire or permit adjustment, is thoroughly re 'able andcertain in its action, capable of positively pre-' venting the floodingof the radiator, etc., by an excess volume of water.

Further advantages and the constructional details of my invention willbe pointed out in the course of the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which I have shown apreferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is acentral vertical sectional view of thefitting taken on the dotted line 1-1, Fig. 2; Fig. 2 is a similarsectional view taken on the dotted line 22, Fig. 1; and Fi 3 is ahorizontal sectional view taken on t e dotted line 3-3, Fig. 1.

' As made already prominent, one chief purpose of my invention is tomake the fitting, trap, or vacuum-T, simple in construction andincapable of getting out of order, and to this end I have succeeded inreducing the construction to a single piece. I'regard thisaccomplishment as one of the most important of the invention, as iteffectually eliminates all valves, diaphragms, floats, thermostaticlugs, or other movable members, and al adjustment of every kind.

55. When correctly made it is always correct, as

{it requires no adjustment and is incapable of being adjusted.

To this end the device consists of a casting or other molded or spun,continuous piece, comprising an external casing 1 having a threadedinlet 2, outlet 3, and preferably an upper clean-out opening 4 normallyclosed by a plug 5, a vertical suction cone 6 extending coaxiallyvertically above the outlet 3 and terminating at its top edge 7approximately flush with the bottom of the inlet 2, the internal spaceof the fitting or trap being divided into two chambers 8, 9 by anoblique wall 10 formed integrally with, or at least closing tightlyagainst, the outer walls or casing 1 and the cone 6 as clearly shown inFig. 2. The oblique wall 10 extends for wardly and downwardly in frontof the inlet opening 2 and terminates at 11 so as to provide ports 12for the water of condensation from the chamber 8 and the chamber 9,which, rising in the chambers 8 and 9 to the top 7 of the cone 6, actsas a water seal to prevent the escape of steam through the ports '12.Above the top of the cone 6 the oblique wall 10 isprovided with a smallair vent or vapor vent 13 shown as extending obliquely upward adjacentthe top of the slanting wall or partition 10.

In use, the threaded opening 2 receives the discharge end of theradiator or other heating device which is to be connected, and theoutlet connection or returnv pipe is threaded into the opening 3 leadingto the usual exhaust or vacuum pump of a heating system. The water ofcondensation quickly collects in the bottom of the fitting or trap,flowing down the inclined wall or partition 10 and closing the ports 12at the base of the suction cone 6. As soon as the water has risen abovethe edges 11 of said oblique wall or artition 10, the valve or fittingis thereby e ectually sealed, but because of the simple air or va orvent 13 the steam of the heating system as continuous free passage fromthe inlet opening 2 to the outlet opening 3. It is to be articularlynoted that my invention provi es a construction open to its full area atall times both to the inlet passage leading from the radiator, coil orother device being drained, and to the return pipe leading to theexhaust or vacuum generating device of the system, and yet the ports'12,1.2 are closed or sealed by the water collected around the suction.cone, thereby preventing the direct flow of withdrawn from the chamber9.

uncondensed steam through the suction cone and return or discharge mainto the vacuum generating device, and protecting the vacuum generated bythe latterin the chamber 9. As the suction at the discharge end orreturn pipe exhausts the air from the chamber 9, communicating with theradiator through the fine air or vapor o ening 13, inlet chamber 8 andinlet 2, it wit draws or exhausts air from the radiator thereby causingthe water of condensation to flow toward the fitting or trap to fill thevoid left by the air or vapor This water of condensation enters theinlet 2, flows down the oblique wall 10 to the bottom and then throughthe ports 12, 12 and surrounds the suction cone 6 until the two chambers8 and 9 are full of water to the top of the suction cone. Every particleof water overtopping the suction cone at once flows down through thelatter into the return or discharge pipe. The small quantity of steamwhich may be drawn through the air vent 13 is effectually condensedbefore it can reach the discharge main or outlet in a sufiicientquantity to break or relieve the vacuum generated in the chamber 9, thecondensation therefrom fiowing down the oblique wall 10 to the bottom ofchamber 9. It will also be particularly noted that although the inlet ortop of the suction cone is effectually sealed at all times by the waterseal against any undue rush or influx of steamer vapor from the inlet 2,it is nevertheless open at all times to its maxi mum area and ready tohandle any sudden flooding or influx of water of condensation from theradiator or other heating device being drained. The ports 12, 12 arealways sealed by the water of condensation and yet the air and vaporvent or opening 13 is always open to the passage of air from the steamin the radiator being drained, thereby allowing the requisite passageofa sufficient quantity of steam and vapor to maintain the heating systemin proper operative condition and obviating all chances of excessivevacuum in chamber 9 and all danger of the water seal around the suctioncone 6 being siphoned over the to of the suction cone and drawn out ofthe tting.

The above operation and all the advantages mentioned are secured Withoutthe pres ence of any movable part and without any adjustment of thedevice. On the contrary, said advantages are accomplished by a onepiecearticle of manufacture, which, not having any adjustment, cannot betampered with, requires no special skill for its use, is easily appliedand is inexpensive, durable and efficient.

It will be understood that while one of the important advantages of myinvention is its capability of manufacture'as a single-piece article, Ido not wish to preclude myself from making the same in separate parts;and also I wish it understood that my invention in some of its broaderaspects, as pointed out in certain of the following claims, is capableof different embodiments as many changes and modifications may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as definedin said claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is,

1. A trap, provided with an inlet in its uper portion for connection toa radiator or the iike, and an outlet in its lower portion forconnection to a return discharge pipe, said trap having an internalcavity, an upright part1- tion dividing said cavity into an inletchamber and a vacuum chamber, the upper portion of said partition havinga small air vent afording communication between said. chambers, the trapbeing provided with a water port between said chambers at the lower endof said partition, and a tubular portion containing a discharge passageextending u p from said outlet above said port and opening into saidvacuum chamber.

2. A trap, rovided with an inlet in its upper portion or connection to aradiator or the like, and an outlet in its lower portion for connectionto a return discharge pipe, said trap having an internal cavity, anupright partition dividing said cavity into an inlet chamber and avacuum chamber, the u )per portion of said partition having a small airvent affording communication between said chambers, the trap beingprovided with a water port between said chambers at the lower end ofsaid partition, and a suction cone extending into said vacuum chambervertically above the outlet provided with a discharge passagecommunicating at its lower end with said outlet and opening into saidvacuum chamber at its upper end in approximate alinement with the bottomedge of said inlet.

3. A trap, provided with an inlet inv its uper portion for connection toa radiator or the iike, and an outlet in its lower portion forconnection to-a return discharge pipe, said trap having an internalcavity, an upri ht part1- tion extending obliquely downward and forward,dividing said cavity into an inlet cham ber and a vacuum chamber, andhaving a small air vent through its upper )ortion affordingcommunication between said cham bers, said trap being provided with awater port between said chambers at the lower end of said partition, anda tubular discharge device extending up from said outlet above said ortinto said vacuum chamber and pro vide with a discharge passage affordingcommunication between. said vacuum chamber and outlet.

4; A trap formed in a single piece, provided with an inlet in its upperportion for connection to a radiator or the like, and an outlet in itslower portion for connection to a return discharge pipe, said trapcontaining.

an internal cavity, an upright partition extending obliquely downwardand forward dividing said cavity into an inlet chamber and a vacuumchamber and containing a small air vent through its upper portionaffording communication between said chambers, said trap being providedwith a Water port between said chambers at the lower end of saidpartition, and a suction cone extending into said vacuum chambervertically above the outlet, terminating at its upper end in approximatealinement with the bottom of t e inlet and provided with a dischargepassage affording communication through said cone between said vacuumchamber and outlet.

5. A trap, consisting of a casing provided in one side with an inlet, anoutlet in its bottom, and a clean-out in its top, and provided with aninternal cavity, an upright partition extending from side to side ofsaid cavity, located between the clean-out and the inlet, dividing saidcavity into an inlet chamber communicating with said inlet and a vacuumchamber communicating with both the outlet and the clean-out, saidpartition having an air vent through'its upper portionaffordingcommunication between said two chambers, the trap being provided with awater port below said partition and with means cooperating with saidwater port to provide a water seal between said chambers and at the sametime 'to permit the free escape of air and water from the vacuumchamber.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WALLACE E. TILLINGHAST.

Witnesses:

WM. J. PIKE, M. J. SPALDING.

